Nigerians on microblogging social media platform, X, have condemned the continued denigration of the Federal Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) by self-styled energy expert, Kevin Emmanuel.
Emmanuel had in an appearance on Channels Television on Monday, February 3, declared that Port Harcourt and Warri refineries were not producing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) despite NNPCL’s provision documentary evidence.
Emmanuel, a regular guest on television stations where he repeatedly condemn the Federal Government and NNPCL’s efforts at stabilising petroleum products supply in the country without backing up his claims with evidence, once again, carelessly bandied unsubstantiated figures in his bid to defame the Federal Government and the national oil company.
Nigerians were however, unimpressed with his antics and they took to Channels Television’s X handle in their numbers to express their displeasure. While many described him as a paid agent of the owner of a local oil refining company, others wondered by he was making an exhibition of himself on national television by claiming no production was taking place in the two refineries when NNPCL had long provided video evidence.
The enraged Nigerians took a swipe at the presenter of the programme for not challenging his guest to substantiate his claims with evidence particularly regarding the figures he threw around on the issue of quantity of petrol imported into the country.
One of the users, @MissRozapepper, said of Mr. Emmanuel claims:
“I know a paid propaganda when I see one. End Users are getting on a daily basis but you want us to believe the refineries are not refining any product? Alinko is at work here lol”.
Another, @Hammedojo8, said:
“These people are full of negativity in their life. They see no good thing other than bad news”.
Lending his voice to the conversation, @DSolabi noted:
“This is why I hate some of Nigeria public analysts. They will never investigate any issue of public concern. They just come up with theories and feed Nigerians. Has this man gone to those refineries himself?”
His position was supported by @Ushasaai14 who said:
“The thing is has he visited the place to see things for himself.. all this rubbish Energy expert thing, that’s why I liked the question Keyamo asked that no one is Aviation expert. Same to this hungry people calling themselves expert, what solution or problems have they solved?”
They challenged media to ensure that only qualified and responsible individuals with deep knowledge of their disciplines be allowed on their platforms as they would dispassionately deal with issues instead of showing bias and malice as Mr. Emmanuel does repeatedly.
Below are some of their comments:
@esteemkuti
“Kelvin is talking rubbish for his pay .nnpc made it clear only pH refinery is producing pms for now and only it’s 60000bpd is operating,warri only producing diesel kerosene and fuel oil.”
@access200
He is Aliko paid agent
@IsoloShoemaker
“Lol, Kelvin again. He’s a sore loser. Ọmọ weyrey”.
@hadjiambali
“Energy expert kee you dia.”
@AkimAlo101
“Kelvin is a clown”
@walexandy:
“We have many useless media houses in Nigeria. I’m sure Channels TV has reporters in Warri. Why is it difficult for them to go to the refinery and get first hand information for Nigerians? Energy expect my foot!”
@AigbeOsazeK
“I just weep for Nigeria’s journalism. Nobody investigates anything… All they do is “dem say dem say. @channelstv and other stations should be giving Nigerians factual news based on their investigation.”
@seunokin
” pls this is not a headline… it’s dem say dems. Do your work!”
@ibeawuchi_emma
“So a whole Channel TV can not go to Warri refinery to confirm if they are refining any product or not,chai! Even Seun now depends on them say them say mama Cecilia beer parlour gossip for his information. It’s either you are mischievous or you are confirm Olodo.”
@olotudemola
“At times @channelstv display their bias towards specific and targeted industries in which they could have done better. The expert is okay but why not bring in someone from NNPCL or an operator in other to have a balanced argument. The man exude so much propaganda with is assertions”.
@AigbeOsazeK
“There’s no doubt something of some persons have truly not only captured the 3 arms of government but also the 4th realm of the estate…. when you watch how news media houses rather than roll their sleeves up to investigate, will depend solely on “hear say”. So saddening!”
@PeterAboladeTu1
“Channels TV and Seun Okinbaloye is more of arm chair journalism. Even the cut and sew Arise Tv go see with their eyes. But Seun sir down and bring people who talk and pray for the country worst to studio to talk”.
@Nelkonniyi
“Seun would have busted Emmanuel’s claims about the figures of imported fuel and the combined production figures, but he left it hanging midway and jumped to other things.”
@tosino52
“Kelvin why???? Almost zero? People are getting the product with ease & without hassle & you say Dey are not refining. This agenda is not agending pls”.
@Rasheed_Adinoyi
“Have you visited the refinery to confirm the authenticity of your claims? From “it will never come back to life” to “The possibility to refine any product is almost zero. Laughable.”
@mmrajii90_raji
“Don’t come here to tell us about that , go there and find out what is happening like the representative of upper and lower houses have been there”
@info4goddybens
“So this energy expert cannot visit the refinery to confirm this? Nigerians eh!!”
@dunni05
“Lol, first they said the refineries would never work, now they’re scrambling to discredit them. Warri has “zero” chance? Then what’s the test run for? We see the game; so keep your propaganda, we’ll stick to facts”.
@davtuns
“But Olu Philips of Channelstv was at the refineries when they were opened….”
@jydesky007
“Have you done your on the site assessment before arriving at this conclusion?:
@BanjiOkesoto
“An irony that the Kelvin believed the government report that suggested an importation of 4billion litres of pms but he finds it difficult to believe that 2 refineries are working. What a biased analyst.”
@stgabriel404
“desperately needs that recognition.”
@iwologbon
“Channels Tv and other media channels has been invited on several occasions to witness the refinery in operation. Seun himself can travel to Warri and Port Harcourt to witness this first hand and bring the report to the public. Why’s he inviting clowns to give unconfirmed report ?”
@TOMIDE_akins
“Firstly I must say that I am disappointed @seunokinand the entire Channels. For real, you guys can’t travel to PH and WARRI to do your findings. What is wrong with us in this country, seems we are not serious at all. How can a matter of National interest as such be treated as…”
